Jalen Brunson receives votes in New York mayoral election… without being a candidate

The New York City elections held an unexpected surprise. Jalen Brunson, star point guard of the Knicks, received 27 votes for the position of mayor. And this, without being a candidate. These spontaneous votes, written in by fans on their ballots, illustrate once again his iconic status in the Big Apple.

An electoral phenomenon as rare as it is symbolic

According to official Board of Elections reports, this curiosity appears among the millions of votes cast. Jalen Brunson’s name appears on 27 write-in ballots. This procedure allows voters to write in the name of a person not officially running.

Moreover, adding a few misspelled ballots, the total climbs to around 29 votes. A modest number, certainly, but highly symbolic.

Thus, Brunson tops a rather unusual ranking. He leads other athletes mentioned, such as Aaron Judge, Jaxson Dart, and Pete Alonso. Of course, this score remains anecdotal compared to Zohran Mamdani’s large victory. However, the message sent by the fans is clear.

« Staying in his lane, » Brunson’s firm choice

Asked at a press conference, Jalen Brunson welcomed the news with a smile. Nevertheless, he quickly dismissed any idea of a political career change. « We have a great fanbase – it’s funny, it’s cool to see, but I’m going to stay in my lane, » he stated.

In other words, the point guard prefers to focus on basketball rather than municipal affairs. And this decision is easily explained.

Popularity built on the court

Indeed, Brunson’s popularity is based primarily on his athletic performance. This season, he’s posting elite point guard statistics. He’s averaging 28 points and 6 assists, with 48% shooting and 38% from three-point range.

Moreover, his offensive creation structures the entire Knicks’ game. The team changes when he’s on the court. Conversely, his absences quickly highlight certain collective limitations.

An anecdote that brings smiles to the locker room

Unsurprisingly, the episode sparked discussions in the New York locker room. Josh Hart joked that Brunson would make a catastrophic mayor. In response, the point guard replied with humor. He explained that with the keys to the city, he would start by pardoning the thief who recently stole Hart’s watches.

In the end, while Zohran Mamdani manages the city from his office, Jalen Brunson continues to reign elsewhere. On the court at Madison Square Garden.